Background to this inspection
Updated
19 March 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the CQC. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 28 February 2020 and ended on 2 March 2020. We visited the office location on the first day.
What we did before inspection
The provider was not asked to submit a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority involved with the service and Healthwatch Manchester for their views on the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke on the telephone with two people who used the service. On gaining permission we visited one person who used the service and their relative in their home. We also spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, managing director, operations manager for the franchiser and support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, medication records and other records of care provided. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including training and policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We reviewed training data and policies sent to us.
Updated
19 March 2020
Avant Healthcare Services Manchester South is a domiciliary care agency. The service was wholly owned by Fanco Ltd but operated as part of a franchise (Avant Healthcare Services). During our inspection the provider changed the agency name from Fanco Ltd to Avant Healthcare Services Manchester South. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks such as personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection the agency was providing personal care to 3 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe using the service. Visits were well organised and people received support from staff they knew. Safe systems of staff recruitment were in place. Medicines were managed and administered safely.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff received the support and training they needed to carry out their roles effectively. The provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA.)
People liked the staff who supported them. People were treated with compassion and respect. Staff knew people well and enjoyed their work.
Care records were detailed and person centred. They contained sufficient detail to guide staff on the care and support people needed. There was an appropriate system to manage complaints.
Robust systems of quality assurance checks and audits were now in place. People were positive about the way the service was run and organised. The registered manager was committed to providing person centred care and support. People spoke highly of the registered manager.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update.
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published March 2019) and there was one breach of regulations in relation to governance.
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.